Patriots camp battles: Sorting through the crowd at receiver
After using two draft picks at the position, the Patriots wide receivers room is crowded entering training camp.
The Patriots wide receivers room may still be lacking the established top-end talent heading into 2024 training camp. However, it’s still a crowded group with real competition heading into the summer.
As camp begins there are four projected roster locks at wide receiver – Kendrick Bourne (assuming he’s healthy and cleared to start the season, which Jerod Mayo suggested at the end of minicamp is expected), Pop Douglas, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Given the $3.1 million guaranteed in K.J. Osborn’s contract, he’s a near-lock as well.
Five receivers is a pretty typical number for a team to carry, so it’s very possible the Patriots stop there. But if they feel they have one more spot, Bourne isn’t ready to start the season, or there’s another injury, it opens the door for a group of players who were projected as some of the Pats’ top receivers last year.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor would be the leaders for that next receiver spot. Reagor may have the inside track, given his speed and tremendous value on special teams (in addition to returning kicks, he has some experience at gunner). Smith-Schuster was the only wide receiver to sit out both kickoff periods in minicamp, Thornton was working with Smith-Schuster on a side field for one of the two.
Smith-Schuster would have the advantage of experience in another young room, but he’ll need to prove last year’s injury was a significant hindrance and that he can bounce back. His contract also complicates the situation, with a multi-year multi-million dollar cap hit if the Patriots cut or trade bum.
At the same time, it’s tougher to see the path to the roster for Thornton, who has no guaranteed money on his contract. Thornton also missed the end of minicamp.
Overall, these three won’t just be battling against each other, but bubble players at other positions as well to prove to the team it’s worth keeping a sixth receiver. Still, it’s possible none of the three make the team this year, after accounting for a combined 27 percent of all Patriots wide receiver catches in 2023.
Kayson Boutte could be a factor here too. Cleared of his illegal gambling charges this week, the focus turns to football. He’s flashed as a potential weapon at times in training camp last year and in the spring this year but those performances have been just that – flashes. He’ll need to prove to the coaches he can be more consistent in order to push for a spot on the team.
Keep scrolling for more Patriots training camp battles…
7 position and roster battles to watch in Patriots training camp
An overview of the biggest position and roster battles to watch when Patriots training camp begins next week.
Football is just about back in Foxborough. New England Patriots training camp begins on July 24, as the team gets ready for the 2024 season.
For those following along, the big story of training camp is often the position and roster battles taking place. There are certainly no shortage of battles on the Patriots’ roster this year.
Position and roster battles can be used interchangeably at times, but they are two different things. Position battles are between players at the same position who are both/all expected to make the team and at the same position, competing for a higher spot on the depth chart.
Meanwhile, roster battles are between players – either from the same position or different positions – outright battling for a spot on the 53-man roster. This relates to the concept of the roster bubble and ‘at-large’ roster spots, which we usually get into once camp is underway. The battles can last all the way through camp, and now with the new practice squad elevation rules can even continue into September.
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Throughout this week, we’ll be highlighting the closest and most important position and roster battles in Patriots training camp this year. Each battle will have its own breakdown (which will be linked in this post once it’s posted), but here’s an overview of the positions we’ll be focusing on.
Third running back
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots running back JaMycal Hasty (39) runs the ball at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Between Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson, the top of the Patriots’ running back depth chart is set. But even from a realistically optimistic outlook, it takes more than two players to get through a season at a position as physically demanding and injury-prone as running back.
In past years it’s mainly been Kevin Harris in that third running back role, either from on the active roster or as a practice squad elevation. He’s back to compete again this year, but the team has two similar downhill backs in UDFAs Deshaun Fenwick and Terrell Jennings who could compete4 for the role. The door is also certainly open for veteran JaMycal Hasty, who got plenty of reps this spring after finishing last season on the Patriots’ active roster. Hasty is a faster, quicker back who can also make plays in the passing game and has significant special teams experience.
Depth cornerback
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden (29) stretches before the start of minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into camp, Christian Gonzalez, Jonathan Jones, and Marcus Jones all roster locks. Coming off of his impressive performance in spring practices, Alex Austin seems to be a near-lock as well. That’s the top of the depth chart, but who will provide the depth?
There’s a crowded group behind those four looking to fill out the one or two depth cornerback spots left on the roster. That group includes some familiar names. Isaiah Bolden was making a roster push last year before suffering a concussion late in the preseason that landed him on IR. Shaun Wade and Marco Wilson are also back to compete for roster spots after spending time with the team last year (as is 2023 practice squad member Azizi Hearn, who stood out in minicamp).
Some rookies will compete here too. Sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial fits the prototype of a Patriots boundary cornerback. UDFA Mikey Victor is another player to watch – he has a unique size/speed makeup, closed the spring strong, and was getting some special teams reps.
Second boundary cornerback
Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones at 2023 training camp in Foxboro. (98.5 The Sports Hub)
Time to go back to the top of the cornerback depth chart. Jonathan Jones is the real pivot player here. Will stay on the boundary opposite Gonzalez, where he’s played the past two seasons? Or will he move back into the slot where he excelled to start his career?
The picture is a little cleaner if Jones moves back to the slot. He’d be there, with Alex Austin the favorite for the second boundary spot. If Jones kicks back outside, Austin becomes the third rotational boundary corner with the slot then becoming the key question between Marcus Jones, Isaiah Bolden, or other depth players.
Final wide receiver
Jun 10, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Jalen Reagor (83) makes a catch at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into camp there are four projected roster locks at wide receiver – Kendrick Bourne (assuming he’s healthy and cleared to start the season, which Jerod Mayo suggested at the end of minicamp is expected), Pop Douglas, and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Given the $3.1 million guaranteed in K.J. Osborn’s contract, he’s a near-lock as well.
Pending injury, that could be the Patriots’ full initial wide receiver room. But there are still some well-known names left, either trying to prove they’re worth the team keeping a sixth receiver, or battling for a spot that opens due to injury. That group includes JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Jalen Reagor.
Kicker
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 17: Chad Ryland #37 of the New England Patriots kicks an extra point during the game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
If you missed it, we actually covered the outlook of the Patriots’ kicker position after minicamp ended last month. Neither Chad Ryland nor Joey Slye made an overwhelming case to earn the job, meaning things remain up in the air as training camp begins.
It will be a sprint to the finish at the kicker position. Can Ryland or Slye show notable improvement in training camp? If not, will the team bring another kicker in? That could be during camp, or even during final roster cuts.
Offensive line
Dec 17, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots guard Mike Onwenu (71) lines up against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
Not just tackles or guards. Not just starters or backups. Jobs across the offensive line and up and down the depth chart at these positions are open to be won in camp. That includes starting spots – both who and where – as well as backups.
David Andrews will be back at center and the team seems committed to starting out with Chuks Okorafor at left tackle, but after that it’s tough to pin anything down. Mike Onwenu will start somewhere, but will he be at tackle or guard? Which guard spot will Sidy Sow play? Where does third-round pick Caedan Wallace factor in? Who will be Okorafor’s backup? All that and more will have to be sorted out over the next few weeks.
Quarterbacks
Jun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) and quarterback Jacob y Brissett (14) throw passes at minicamp at Gillette Stadium. Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY SportsJun 12, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA;
Even for those who think there is no chance for rookie Drake Maye to start Week 1, there’s still plenty at stake in training camp this year. Getting a better idea of where he’s at relative to Jacoby Brissett will go a long way in establishing the timetable for him taking over – even if Week 1 is off the table. Can he put pressure on the coaches to make the change sooner rather than later?
It’s also worth keeping in mind that the starting quarterback battle isn’t the only one at the position. NFL teams rarely keep four quarterbacks, which means most likely at least one of Bailey Zappe or Joe Milton will end up on the outside looking in.
